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 Open the Floodgates! There are at least 16 issues and 40 U.S. stamps this month, most to meet the new rates. "Can't tell the players without a scorecard" — and our scorecard is the entire U.S. 2012 stamp program. See the designs here. And listen to a radio feature "Get Out The Hip Waders [The Coming Deluge]" here. Of special interest: No Legends of Hollywood stamp in 2012, the Olympics stamps that aren't (and why), and the Girl Scouts centennial stamp that isn't quite the Girl Scouts centennial stamp. New U.S. Rates January 22nd The letter rate is 45¢, postcards 32¢ but some rates stay the same. Details and discussion are here. And here's a quick overview.  "Help! I just inherited
this stamp collection!" Just been given Aunt Matilda's old stamp collection and don't know what to do with it? We can help. 
"An Exceedingly Large Vice"Why is there so much ingratitude in stamp collecting? Columnist John Hotchner looks at the problem in his latest VSC column.  The stamp subjects include Mark Twain, Alan Shepard's space flight, Gregory Peck, Ronald Reagan, Pixar Animation Studios, and the Indianapolis 500. More details right here in our famous interactive 2011 U.S. Stamp Schedule! Designs can be seen in our Gallery. And take a look of what VSC members thought of the subjects and designs before they were issued in our annual U.S. stamp polls.
Lloyd's Fun FDCs! Volume 41 - Souvenirs from AmeriStamp Expo 2011 The first day covers in this edition range from 1937 to 2011, and from No. 10 envelopes to ceramics. Expertizing Show & Tell Ever wonder how experts certify that a stamp really is what the owner or seller claims? Dealer/Expertizer Bill Weiss and others show how it's done -- and why it's hard to be certain sometimes when buying stamps online. Unique Stamp Collecting Bookstore We have philatelic books in our bookstore you won't find anywhere else on the Internet, including publications from F.D.C. Publishing Co., the U.S. Stamp Society, and John Hotchner. Virtual Stamp Club? How can I join?  The Virtual Stamp Club was
chartered in 1995 as the first electronic chapter of the American
Philatelic Society. It is now also a chapter of the American
First Day Cover Society. It's a stamp club for those of us online.Membership requirements are simple: Show up! It's FREE! Enter our Message Board and you can count yourself a member of the VSC, APS Chapter #1461, AFDCS Chapter #84. That's all there is to it: No dues, no applications, no oaths, no secret handshakes. The best philatelic news, information and discussion is here in the Virtual Stamp Club! Buy/Sell/Trade Place a free buy, sell or trade adlet in our Message Board's Buy/Sell/Trade Folder. It's limited to stamps, covers and other philatelic materials, and there are a few other restrictions. Check the Forum Rules . If you're a stamp collector and having a hard time enjoying the intricate beauty of your stamps and covers, glasses or contacts lenses from Lens.com could bring the detail back to your collection. Quotable: "I've got a stamp collection that goes back to some of the first commemoratives." — U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe
Last Updated February 3, 2012 |
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Stamp Shows This Weekend! January 27-29 Updated Midweek 2/3/2012
Message Board Start Page! Visit the Stamp Collecting Bookstore.   Join The Nation's Stamp Club here:  The American Philatelic Society Search VSC
 U.S. Rules for Collector Cancellations Digital Color Postmark Rules No Junk No Spyware No Pop-Up Ads On This Site Sponsor For: 2003 "Every Cover Has A Story" Contest! Read these stories and join the discussions in the Message Forum. Advertise at The Virtual Stamp Club!  Lloyd A. de Vries Forum Host lloyd @virtualstampclub.com |
